Fathom

by Ashley L. Knight

  I had never swum with Naira and she was very excited about it. She ran ahead of me, nearly tripping on the edge of the dock. Her perfect smile played about her lovely face as she hopped up and down on the dock, making the waves ripple outward from the dock’s slimy edges.

  “Hurry!” She called. “It’s not bad!”

  When I reached the dock, I dipped a toe in and rolled my eyes. “Not that bad? It’s freezing!”

  “No it’s not,” she argued and slid into the dark lake. I was surprised to see her tail was not like any I’d seen before; it was turquoise and magenta.

  “What do Mom and Tammer say about the color of your tail?” I asked, my teeth already beginning to chatter as I eased into the frigid water.

  “They say it’s pretty,” her tone saddened, “but really they think there’s something wrong with me.”

  “What?” I couldn’t believe that.

  She nodded. “They’ve never seen a tail like mine. But I already know why it’s like this.”

  “Oh yeah?” I phased, instantly feeling my skin adjust to the temperature of the water. “Why?”

  “Because I’m your sister.”

  That didn’t make any sense. “What do you mean?”

  “Everything’s going to change now,” she said. I watched her blond ringlets slowly disappear from the surface of the water as she slipped down into the depths.

  I stayed where I was and tried to wrap my mind around what she’d just said. It was strange talking to such a little girl who was so well advanced beyond her years. Sometimes, she made me feel inadequate.

  Scanning the water’s shores, I felt confident no one was boating this early. Feeling her little hand tug at my fins, I let her pull me under. She giggled as I floated down to her.

  “You’re pretty,” she said, and something about the way she said it made me want to give her a hug. I pulled her into my arms and held her close. Resting my chin on the top of her head, I closed my eyes. Naira was one of the loveliest children I’d ever met and she was my sister, believe it or not. I wondered why I hadn’t spent more time with her in the past.

  “Because you had Thayde,” she answered and I held her back.

  “Are you going to be in my head all the time now?” I joked and she shook her head.

  “You can block people from reading your mind.”

  “You’re going to have to teach me that one too, I’m afraid.” I let her go and she held onto my hand.

  “I think Sharlie will let us ride him.” The quick shift in subject made my skin prickle.

  “No, that’s all right!” I almost shouted. “Let’s just have a swim for now.”

  “But he’s already here.” She pointed into the dark water.

  I couldn’t see a darn thing and it was terrifying. When I looked at her, her eyes were white. Ah yes, the dead eye thingy. Within seconds, I had changed them and all became clear. Sharlie’s monstrous form was suspended in the water, about a hundred feet away, and fifty feet below us. I watched, frozen, as his tail whipped to the side, propelling him effortlessly toward us. Frantic, I began to scramble to the surface, pulling Naira upward with me.

  “Stop!” She cried, pulling her hand away. I paused long enough to see Sharlie had stopped swimming toward us and now looked about, as if searching for a predator. “He won’t hurt us,” she insisted and started to swim to him.

  “Naira!” I could see Mom and Tammer’s disapproval from a mile away. “Come back here!” I squealed, the sheer panic at the fact that my tiny sister was going to be gobbled up by the lake dragon, forcing me to follow her.

  She began to sing softly and Sharlie’s gaze zeroed in on her like a hawk tracing a rabbit for the kill. Within moments, he was a few feet in front of her, slowing. I couldn’t reach her in time. He circled his long neck around her pulling my baby sister to him.

  “Naira!” I screamed, knowing this was the last time I was going to see her alive. And then, her arms encircled his neck in a loving hug. She rested her head on him and closed her eyes, her smile telling me all was well. I stopped my ungraceful scramble toward them, changed my eyes back to normal, and watched.

  Sharlie was hugging Naira – well, as best he could, and Naira was loving every minute of it. She began to hum, and a low, guttural sound began to emit from Sharlie. They were singing to each other! If Sharlie hadn’t been so freaky to look at, I would have said it was sweet.

  When they were finished, he released her and she patted his side. “I told you so,” she said coyly.

  I was too stunned to speak.

  “You can be Sharlie’s friend too.”

  “How?”

  “You have to feel The Love and push it to him.”

  Clearly, she meant the golden orb we were able to create.

  “You just have to relax,” she encouraged.

  “Easier said than done!” I argued.

  She sighed, placing her hand on her hip. Naira wasn’t one who liked to mess around – my baby sister liked to get her way. Sharlie watched me with one of his hawk eyes and twisted his head to the side – almost like an owl. I think he was deciding whether or not he should eat me.

  I forced my eyes closed and began to focus. The orb eventually arrived and I pushed all the love I had for Thayde into it. When it released, it flew toward the monster, covering him in a gold shower of light that faded as it fell through the water.

  “Whoa!” Naira cried, as she, too, was covered in it. “You want to make him fall in love with you?”

  “No,” I stammered, “I just did what you said.”

  She held onto his neck as he moved toward me. As soon as he was within striking distance, he lowered his head.

  “He wants you to pet him.” Naira said, in a way that I swear she wanted to add “duh” on the end.

  I reached forward, my hand shaking and patted him tentatively. His brown-green scales were unforgiving under the weight of my hand.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Naira said. “He likes us.”

  I let my hand rest on his head and he closed his eyes tight. I felt as if I were patting a faithful dog. He didn’t look exactly as people had long described him. He resembled an enormous dragon, except he didn’t have wings. In place of claws were flippers, with talons that looked as if they could contract if he wanted them to. His long tail curled about in the water, keeping him steady.

  “He’s not as scary as he looks,” I offered, and Sharlie pushed his head closer into me so I’d continue petting him.

  “He’s a very good boy.” Naira swam up the length of his neck, trailing her hand along it. “He doesn’t like humans anymore. All they do is dirty his water and scream in fear when they see him.”

  “Can you talk to him?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  It was unbelievable. “You have incredible powers, Naira! Do you know that?”

  “Not like you,” she said.

  Suddenly, Sharlie’s head rose and he looked away from us, his whole body tense and alert.

  “Something’s wrong,” Naira said, looking in the same direction. “Someone’s coming.”

  The larger scales on Sharlie’s neck rose and he swam forward a few feet, placing himself between us and whatever was making its way toward us. Summoning The Sight, I was able to see what was making him so antsy - it was another merperson.

  “We’re not alone.” I said, pulling Naira close. A few seconds later, an arrow flew through the water, barely missing Sharlie and slicing the water where Naira had been.

  “He’s hunting Sharlie!” She screamed, struggling to release herself from my grip.

  “Naira!” I held onto her arms, turning her to face me. “Let me handle this!”

  She nodded, her large, frightened eyes darting from my face to the scene behind me. “Stay here,” I ordered and let go of her.

  Despite the danger to himself, Sharlie was obviously not going anywhere. When another arrow was released from the spear gun the stranger held in his hands, I placed myself in its way and held up
my hand. The moment it reached me, it disintegrated.

  The merman stopped his advance, hovering in the water. He seemed to be considering what to do next. Instead of continuing his attack, he pulled the spear gun onto his shoulder and raised his hands in defeat. Cautiously, he swam to me. I held my ground. Sharlie held his behind me.

  “You’re a long way from the ocean,” he called out in an Australian accent. I didn’t answer. When I changed my eyes back to normal, I recognized him immediately. It was the Viking we saw at the restaurant a few days earlier.

  “Is this your pet?” He motioned to Sharlie.

  I ignored his question. “Are you planning on eating him when you’re finished killing him?”

  The Viking laughed. “No! I hunt for sport.”

  “Sport? You kill because it makes you feel good? Doesn’t that say a lot about who you are?” I asked.

  A few feet in front of me, he crossed his arms and looked me up and down.

  “I remember you from the restaurant.”

  When I didn’t answer, he looked behind me to Sharlie and Naira.

  “Raif said you gave him The Look when he approached your table. You destroyed my arrow by holding up your hand. You seem to have a few powers.”

  “Just a few,” I said.

  He nodded, offering his hand. “I’m Lars.”

  I hesitated. This stranger could be dangerous and I wasn’t about to let anything happen to Naira. I could feel the heat in me rise. “Morgan,” I said and took his hand in mine. Ever so lightly, I let The Fire seep from me. He reacted as if I’d scalded him, pulling his hand back and his mouth dropping open.

  “You’re Her, aren’t you?” He said.

  “I am,” I said.

  “You’re The Link?”

  “I am,” I repeated.

  “Friggin’ awesome!” His whole demeanor changed; he seemed completely ecstatic to have met me. “You know how long my family’s been preparing for your coming? Forever! I was told that it’d be in my lifetime, but honestly I never believed it!”

  “Who exactly are you?” I asked.

  “My name’s Lars Fawning. I’m a hunter and I Leap, too. I was told that when The Link was ready, I would find him and join him.”

  “A hunter?” I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not a very good shot, Lars.”

  He looked embarrassed. “Yeah, well, you can’t win ‘em all.”

  Naira touched my elbow. “We need to go home,” she said in a tiny voice. I took her hand in mine.

  “You are not allowed to kill Sharlie. Ever.” I ordered and Lars nodded with enthusiasm.

  “On my honor, I won’t.”

  “Good. Then you can come with us,” I said and Lars grinned in obvious happiness.

  “You got it!”

  He watched in disgust as Naira kissed Sharlie on the top of his scaly head. After she whispered into his ear, he dove down, disappearing from sight.

  “That sure is one ugly creature,” he said, staring after Sharlie.

  I felt bad for the mythical beast who’d so quickly became our friend and was willing to lay down his life for me. The comment irritated me. “I think that is a matter of perception,” I stated said and he shrugged.

  “Let’s go.” I pulled Naira toward the surface with Lars in tow.

  Chapter Ten

  Circle of Friends

  When I introduced Lars to Mom, her disapproval was so obvious it made Lars clear his throat and look away.

  “Can I speak with you a moment?” Aletheia whispered as she walked past me.

  Crap. I followed her into the living room and plopped into a poufy chair that reminded me of a purple Peep piece of candy.

  “You have to be careful who you let into your circle,” Aletheia said, easing into the opposite chair. “You don’t know this Lars and he could be from the Dartmoth side. Why did you bring him here?”

  “He said his family had been preparing him for my coming and that he was supposed to be with me.” I considered what I’d just said, realizing how naïve I sounded.

  “You need to do a mind sweep and see if his intentions are honorable.”

  “How?”

  “Focus on it and bring it through.”

  That didn’t tell me a whole lot.

  “I need to speak to Naira,” I decided out loud.

  “Of course,” Aletheia rose and left the room. Moments later, my little sister bounded in and settled into my lap.

  “I need to read Lars’ mind to see if he’s a good guy, Naira. Can you tell me how to do it?”

  “You have to go into his head. It’s hard to do. Push through the wall, then pull all his memories and thoughts. Be very careful you don’t push too hard because you could hurt him. It’s hard to do,” she repeated.

  “Okay, I’ll give it a go.” I knew I was probably going to embarrass myself, but I had to try.

  Naira jumped off my lap and Lars watched her run past him as he entered the room. He smiled and looked back to me uneasily.

  “What do you want me to do?” He asked.

  “Sit here.” I patted the chair next to me. He sat, staring into my eyes.

  “What?” I asked and he began to babble.

  “Just a little nervous, being in the presence of The Link and all that. It’s quite an honor, especially since I didn’t think I’d actually meet you. I don’t know what you’re going to do to me right now,”

  “Just hold still for a moment.” I cut him off, already feeling the energy beginning to build.

  “Okay,” he mumbled in obvious discomfort.

  I closed my eyes and did as Naira instructed. When I released the orb, it hesitated when it reached Lars and I held onto it, focusing it even more. A few moments later, it broke through and my mind was flooded with memories. I opened my eyes, barely able to see Lars through the video that had begun to play before me. Leaning forward, I placed both of my hands on either side of his head. Doing that seemed to slow the images down and I delved as deep as I could into his mind.

  He had been telling the truth. I could see his family preparing him from infancy with the tales of my coming, his father teaching him to shoot a bow and arrow, a gun, his mother teaching him the ways of women, his grandmother caring for him when his parents had been killed. He began to shake under my hands.

  Finally, I was able to fast forward to the day of the restaurant. His friend was a merman as well, one who could change water at his will. They had been admiring Mom and Aletheia and he had wondered if we were mermaids when Raif approached our table.

  His thoughts consisted of being lonely, as he had no love in his life. He was eager to fulfill a destiny that was still unknown to him. He wanted a life of meaning and meant no harm to me or my family.

  I let go of his head, releasing the connection, opening my eyes. His body had broken into a sweat and he trembled.

  “Are you all right?” I touched one of his shoulders. When he didn’t respond, I shook him, but nothing happened. He looked as if he was starting to have a seizure.

  “Mom!” I cried and she flew into the room. “What’s wrong with him?”

  She knelt at his feet, placing her hands on his shoulders. The shaking stopped as the silver glow from her hands grew around his body. When she released him, he opened his eyes.

  “Whoa! What a rush!” He said.

  I started to laugh and Mom’s look silenced me.

  “Morgan, you must be careful when you use your new powers. You could have killed him.”

  Great.

  “She hasn’t been taught that power,” Aletheia said from behind the couch.

  “Yeah, I have. Naira taught me.”

  “Naira?” Mom was incredulous. “She can read minds?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can she do anything else?”

  “She can tame wild beasts - that I know.” Lars commented and stretched his arms backward over his head, nearly touching Aletheia who stood behind him. Her fingers hovered close to his head as if she wanted to brush them thr
ough his long curly blonde hair. When she caught me watching her, she stepped back, looking away.

  “Well,” Mom stood. “This is all very sudden. I wonder why Naira’s keeping secrets.”

  “She’s worried about you,” I answered.

  “Lars,” Aletheia suddenly offered, “Would you like to have a drink on the patio?”

  “Sure!” He winked at me and followed her from the room.

  Mom began to fidget with her skirt, her hands shaking and dropping the fabric.

  “Would you please sit down?” I asked. She sat, holding her head in her hands. “What’s going on? Naira says you’re worried about something.”

  “Well, first of all, you brought a stranger into our group before doing a mind sweep. You must not do that again.”

  She was right. I hadn’t been careful at all.

  “And second, I cannot believe how similar to Reyes, Lars looks. It was a shock to Aletheia when you brought Lars in. Did you see her face?”

  That caught me off guard. I shook my head. “I hope I haven’t created a bad situation,”

  She continued. “I’m not sure. Aletheia is a hard one to read sometimes. Hopefully it will allow her to move onto the next phase of her life. That or it will force her to leave if she can’t handle it.”

  “She can’t leave, she hasn’t finished training me!”

  “Now perhaps you understand why I say you must be careful before you consider who you allow to enter our circle. But by the way she was looking at Lars, I wouldn’t be surprised if she falls for him.”

  We were quiet for a brief moment, considering Lars and Aletheia together. They’d make a beautiful couple. Time would tell.

  “What else is troubling you?” I pressed, knowing it had to do with Naira.

  “I’m worried about Naira. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed she has a different colored tail.”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s getting powers almost daily and I haven’t been able to talk to Tammer about it.”

  “What’s the big deal?”

  “You’re The Link.”

  “I know.”

  “There is no mention in any of the tales of The Link having siblings. There’s always been gossip about it, but most of it is hearsay. I’m starting to wonder if perhaps the gossip is true.”